Riparian Corridors

A riparian corridor is an ecosystem that includes the stream channel, floodplain, and transitional upland fringe. Riparian corridors play important roles in water supply, reduction of floodwater and recreational landscaping.

They can also provide habitat and migration corridors for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, can buffer pollutants, can recharge groundwater, and can cycle and convert energy and nutrients.

Property values increase by having a properly functioning riparian ecosystem. Protection of these ecosystems with buffers can provide open space that is a valuable community resource.

Riparian corridors in urban areas are extremely critical because the corridor can often be the last natural component of the ecosystem that can provide protection of water quality, flow regime (the condition of a river with respect to the rate of its flow), and aquatic and terrestrial habitat.

Section 8.03 and Section 12-Appendix of the Subdivision Ordinance (Ordinance No. 09-07-38) provides information about protection to major creeks falling within the 100-year floodplain of the City of Frisco and its ETJ (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction). Tributaries or stream channels that are not protected from development by the Major Creek Ordinance are protected by buffers recommended through site evaluations and based on the 2004 Final Riparian and Wetland Assessment.

Click here to view Frisco’s stream reaches map. The green numbers on the map indicate the general ranking of the stream reaches, with the lowest number representing the most functional reach.

The Engineering Services Department has also developed a brief document, Developing Near Streams, containing some issues that should be considered as the initial development site plan is being envisioned.